ecotourism

A highly rated wildlife resort by the British Tatler’s Travel Guide, the Kabini River Lodge is set in the Nagarhole National Park of India. As its name implies, the Kabini River is nearby, as well as a lush jungle you can trek through. Bring your camera as you explore, because you’re bound to see all sorts of wildlife: elephants, spotted deer, sloth bear, wild boars and dogs, and maybe even a tiger or a panther. Hunting is not allowed here since this is an ecotourism destination.

Since you may run into a few less than benign creatures, it’s best to take an open top jeep safari throughout the Nagarhole National Park. You can also boat along the River Kabini to catch the elephants and other wildlife as they quench their thirst during the evening. It’s not unusual to see around 200 elephants during the months of March, April, and May. This is because the dry season is in full swing and with the Kabini River still full of life-sustaining water, the elephants will stay nearby - much to the delight of eco-tourists!

The Periyar Tiger Reserve and Air Deccan have joined together to promote the region’s ecotourism. The almost 800 square kilometers of land on the Periyar Tiger Reserve is in Thekkady, Kerala State, South India. The reserve has a wonderful bio diversity, including forests and endangered plants and animals.

Those visiting India can take a flight on Air Deccan to Madurai or Kochi. From there, one of the staff from the Periyar Forest Department will drive travellers to the reserve. The Ecotourism packages include: The Bamboo Grove; Nature Walk; Periyar Tiger Trail; Border Hiking; Babmoo Rafting; Jungle Patrol; Tribal Heritage; Jungle Inn; and Bullock Cart Discoveries.